Can attachment theory save us from climate change?

What does a theory that helps explain romantic relationship styles in adults have to do with caring about climate change and the environment?

A lot, says one Kansas researcher. It’s called attachment theory, and you may have encountered it in your own therapy or through the many social media channels and podcasts dedicated to helping people be better partners.

The latest research shows that attachment theory, which is about how our early childhood bonds affect individual behavior and how we form adult romantic relationships throughout life, could be far more existential than we first thought. It might help preserve the health of our planet.

“For the sake of simplicity, people who are secure, low anxiety or avoidant, are the ones who are more likely to engage in pro-social behavior and be more altruistic – like caring about climate change,” Prof. Omri Gillath, professor of psychology at the University of Kansas, told Reckon. “Whereas people who are insecure in relationships, high anxiety or avoidant, are less likely to engage in that process or will do it for the wrong reasons — to deal with their anxieties, get close to other people and feel appreciated.”

Attachment theory generally categorizes every person into one of three groups: secure, anxious and avoidant. Secure individuals are comfortable with intimacy and trust easily, while anxious people fear rejection and seek validation, and avoidant types shun closeness, fearing loss of independence.

A fourth style, disorganized or anxious-avoidant, includes anxious and avoidant elements and involves unpredictable or confusing behavior.

Gillath’s research primarily focuses on how our attachment styles affect how we are as caregivers, our altruistic tendencies and how they prepare us to receive compassionate care, but several recent studies have looked specifically at the link between attachment styles and climate change.

One study from 2022 echoes Gillath’s thoughts, noting that people with insecure…